Burned and bulldozed

The location of the illegal dwellings. Banga Neck is known for its Turtle Research Station, where Leatherbacks and Loggerheads come ashore between December to February to lay their eggs

Thatched structures were burned to the ground

Bulldozers destroyed brick buildings

Defiance of a High Court Order had disastrous results for developers of unauthorised resorts in the iSimangaliso Wetland Park on Monday when conservation authorities and police demolished the illegal structures. In a dramatic turn of events a man, believed to be one of the developers, blocked off access to the site with his vehicle to stop officials from carrying out their orders. A policeman was slightly injured and the man was taken into custody on charges of obstructing the ends of justice. High ranking conservation officials, assisted by the Public Order Protection Unit of Ulundi, demolished and burned structures, in accordance with the ruling of Judge Piet Koen in the Durban High Court. At least four developers, accused of illegally building in a protected area on the World Heritage Site, were ordered by Judge Koen, to stop construction, interference with plants and vegetation and conducting of commercial and tourism activities. The High Court Order, issued on 23 November 2009, gave the developers until 1 January to comply with the ruling, failing which conservation authorities would remove structures and foreign material, rehabilitate the site to its former condition and recover the costs from the developers.

Status at risk
The court heard evidence that the Park risked losing its World Heritage Site status if unlawful occupants were not evicted. Park managers said that the developers had no permission from relevant authorities to build or live there and said the illegal development was causing serious damage to the environment. Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs, iSimangaliso Wetland Park Authority and Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife brought the application to court, arguing that the developers were clearing virgin forest and erecting structures without permission and without an environmental impact assessment. According to a joint statement issued by the applicants, the developers’ actions amounted to ecological theft and would prejudice the biodiversity of sensitive ecological systems and preclude sustainable tourism development which would provide tangible benefits for neighbouring communities. One of the Respondent Developers, Simon Tembe of the Kwa Thembe Traditional Council Area in Kosi Bay, said he would not demolish his property. He said that developers would mobilise the community against the iSimangaliso officials. Tembe, according to his own admission, spent over R3-million on a development at Banga Nek. He claimed that they had obtained permission from a local induna and that plans were submitted to the magistrate in Ingwavuma.